The US ambassador to Budapest sharply criticized the Hungarian government for its close political and business ties with China, which are often “conditional and the price for this is often expressed in the loss of sovereignty”.
This is reported “Voice of America”.
In a speech to American businessmen who have invested in Hungary at an event organized by the American Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador David Pressman criticized Hungarian authorities for doing business with China based on opaque and “corrupt” contracts.
He also criticized Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s nationalist government for allowing Chinese workers into Hungary and for security cooperation between the two countries that allows the presence of Chinese police in Hungary.
Pressman noted that the United States also conducts business with China, but “transparently, based on precise rules and with due consideration of the security interests of our allies.”
Relations between Budapest and Washington have soured over Hungary’s slowness in ratifying Sweden’s accession to NATO, which was finally approved by Budapest in February, and Orbán’s warm ties to Moscow despite the war in Ukraine.
“We all know that Hungary cannot have both for a long time. To benefit from being in the community of democratic countries, but not be limited by it. To exercise rights, but not always to fulfill duties“, said Pressman.
Pressman’s criticism came a month after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hungary, the first visit by a Chinese leader to Europe in five years, during which he described China-Hungary relations as an “all-weather strategic partnership.”
Under Orbán, Hungary has become an important trade and investment partner for China, unlike some other EU countries that are considering reducing dependence on the world’s second-largest economy.
